The combination of a moist and unstable air mass and hot temperatures led to the development of pulse severe storms across portions of north Alabama.

Event Narrative

Several strong thunderstorms merged and intensified around the southern portion of Guntersville lake. A microburst occurred, with the most significant damage occurring at the Claysville snack bar located along Highway 431, just south of the Highway 431/Highway 79 interchange. The small cinder block building with a relatively flat wood roof that was covered by sheet metal, was heavily damaged. The wind ripped the entire roof structure off and collapsed three of the four exterior walls. The debris was thrown downwind approximately 100 yards. The microburst had estimated maximum winds of 90 mph and appeared to initially be concentrated directly over the snack bar, with further damage moving away from this point. There was evidence of a 50 yard section of a chain link fence being bent foward and nearly uprooted by the damaging wind. The estimated length of this particular microburst was 0.6 miles. A couple of blocks downstream and to the north and between Braswell road and a nearby marina, several medium sized trees were snapped midway down the tree, with smaller branches thrown around. There were also a few sproadic trees downed just northeast of the microburst location.